Special Education License

Augsburg College offers licensure in K–12 Special Education: Academic Behavioral Strategist (ABS). This program qualifies students to teach in special education programs and positions working with students with mild to moderate disabilities in the areas of emotional/behavioral disabilities, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disabilities, developmental and cognitive disabilities and other health disabilities. This program is built on an inclusive education model. Under this model, students learn how to work closely with both special and general educators to facilitate inclusion of special education students into the regular education classroom. Five years after being licensed, teachers must extend their license in one of the above categories through additional coursework.

Also available is the Naadamaadiwin Tribal Special Education Cohort—this graduate licensure program in Special Education: EBD/LD is designed and taught from an American Indian perspective. It is offered in collaboration with the University of Minnesota-Duluth as a hybrid (partly face-to-face and partly online) cohort program. The licensure courses can be applied towards the MAE degree. See the Education Department and http://www.augsburg.edu/mae/tribal-special-education for more information.

The ABS licensure program is offered through weeknight and summer schedules. The Naadamaadiwin Tribal Special Education Cohort program is offered primarily online with weekend sessions at the beginning and end of each semester.

Licensure Requirements

Licensure requirements are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Classes will include both undergraduate and graduate students, with graduate students having additional course responsibilities. Graduate courses are taken at the 500 level. All courses must be taken for licensure, and up to seven courses may also be applied toward the master’s degree in education. The following courses for the ABS license are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels:

EDC 200/522 – Orientation to Education in an Urban Setting*

EDC 206/566 – Diversity/Minnesota American Indians

EDC 310/533 – Learning and Development in an Educational Setting*

EDC 410/544 – Learners with Special Needs*

EED 225/524 – Foundations of Literacy

EED 325/525 – K-6 Methods: Literacy*

EED 350/550 – K–6 Methods: Math*

EED 360/560 – K–6 Methods: Science*

SPE 410/510 – Implementing Assessment Strategies*

SPE 411/511 – Etiology and Theory of Mild to Moderate Disabilities

SPE 415/515 – Theory to Practice*

SPE 425/525 – Transition and Community*

SPE 430/530 – Instructional and Behavioral Practices*

SPE 490/540 – Parent and Professional Planning

EDC 591 – Topics

To complete the ABS license students will also need to complete certain requirements at the undergraduate level:

This program is based on an innovative internship model that allows students employed in special education classrooms to fulfill a portion of their special education field experience requirements while they work. Students not employed in these settings are expected to complete a significant number of volunteer hours in special education settings. All must complete field placements or student teaching in classrooms serving these populations. Hours must be completed across elementary, middle school, and high school and include experiences with the five areas of disability that are part of this license. Specific information on field experience requirements is available from the Education Department.

This program is available only at the graduate level. Courses are taught in a hybrid fashion, partially face-to-face and partially online. Courses are available only to those admitted to the special education tribal cohort program.

SPE 501 – Historical and Contemporary Issues in American Indian Education